An unfiltered account of being an SF writer

Less Than Two Weeks Until Can*Con!!!

It’s somehow always hard to believe, but Can*Con is once again almost upon us!

Helping to plan this event is always a blast – even the finicky scheduling that keeps me up at night sometimes. Even the days it stresses me out are fine because I’m lucky in who I get to work with: my fellow programmers Evan May, Cortni Fernandez and Lisa Toohey, co-chairs Derek Kunsken and Marie Bilodeau, and everyone else involved in what is essentially a year-long planning process. And in my totally unbiased opinion, the guests and programming this year look amazing, and I can’t wait to spend the weekend hanging out with my fellow creatives.

Below is my official schedule for Can*Con (though I’ll be around the entire weekend). I’ll be mostly MIA on social media between now and then, but expect a ton of activity from me throughout the con. Looking forward to seeing you then!

1 pm: I’m Sick to Death of Grim and Dark – In his book Enlightenment Now, Steven Pinker argues that despite popular news headlines, human progress is still happening. Though grimdark is still popular in speculative fiction, more authors are capturing and fostering hope in their work. Authors discuss how they focus on hope in their storytelling, who inspires hope in them, and what we still need more of in SFF. Lex Beckett, Brandon Crilly, Tanya Huff, Jean-Louis Trudel, Kelly Robson (Moderator)

4 pm: In Conversation with Jay Odjick – Join programming director Brandon Crilly for a candid conversation with returning special guest Jay Odjick, creator of the graphic novel Kagagi: The Raven and subsequent TV show on APTN, author and artist of the forthcoming The Outsider, and illustrator of bestselling children’s book Blackflies from Scholastic Canada.

Sunday, October 14

1 pm: Interested in Being on Programming Next Year? – Programming directors Evan May and Brandon Crilly will be on hand in the dealer’s room to discuss Can*Con 2019. If you’re interested in being a panelist, come by and introduce yourself!